About Us

“The South Texas Council, Boy Scouts of America, having met the requirements prescribed for a local council in compliance with the provisions of the federal charter granted by Congress on June 15, 1916, and the Bylaws and Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America, this Corporation is hereby granted a local charter for the furtherance of the Scouting Program for Boys and Young adults within the territory designated in accordance with the application for charter.”

-Boy Scouts of America National Charter

The South Texas Council is chartered to operate the programs of the Boy Scouts of America in 17 counties of South Texas. In order to accomplish this, the volunteers of the Council, through the authority of the Executive Board, have divided the council into geographic districts.

Each district has its own committee of volunteers charged with implementing the program of the Boy Scouts of America and the Council in their district. Each district has its own professional staff support to guide and assist the volunteers of the district’s geographic area. In addition to professional staff positions, office staff, consultants and camp rangers are employed to deliver the Scouting program to youth of our area. Seasonal employees work at our summer camps.

Organization Profile

Organization Name and Nonprofit Status

Our formal name is the South Texas Council, Inc., Boy Scouts of America. We are a 501(c)(3) organization as determined by the Internal Revenue Code of the Internal Revenue Service.

The South Texas Council offers programs for children from age seven (or in first grade) to twenty-one in the counties noted above. Of the over 15,000 children who participate in Scouting activities, 60% are of Hispanic origin; 36% are Caucasian; 2% are African American; and 2% are Asian and of other backgrounds. These children come primarily from moderate to low-income families.

The South Texas Council is dedicated to providing Scouting opportunities to all children, regardless of their economic, social and cultural backgrounds, and it also offers programs for the physically challenged. For more information, please contact the Council at 361-814-4300.

They also provide, without charge, dozens of regular and special forms, applications, certificates and literature (at right is a photograph of Council staff during a summer 2005 retreat near Laredo).

How a Trained, Full-Time Staff Helps Scouting Units

They provide informal training in unit operation, committees, commissioners, roundtables, meetings, conferences, courses, district and council activities that directly benefit leaders and units.

They provide contacts with community resources (clubs, churches, government, etc.), securing help for all units that they alone could not obtain such as the use of parks, recreational areas, use of buildings for special affairs, picnic areas, camp sites and swimming facilities, etc.

The Role of the South Texas Council and Field Executives

They produce district and council calendars and schedules, programs, kits, and special aids to assist leaders and their committees.

They recruit and maintain a corps of commissioners and trainers to help unit leader and committees.

Materials Available to Scout Leaders

Among the many materials available to Scout Leaders are a library of videos, cassettes, projectors and screens for use in training and promotional programs, at no cost to the unit.

Also provided are formal training courses with most of the cost of trainer literature and materials and all the staff time included in the Council budget.

Camping

We maintain two camps: Camp Karankawa and Camp Huisache, for year-round camping, and we employ full-time rangers to maintain the facilities and help the units with program.

Partial scholarships or camperships are available for Scouts in financial need.

The South Texas Council coordinates expeditions to Philmont Scout Ranch, Wilderness Canoe Trips and National Scout Jamborees outside the State of Texas.

Helping Leaders to Develop Programs

The Council provides free of charge program assistance, program planning charts and calendars of activities, meetings and special events, roundup, camporee and Scout Anniversary kits, posters and other materials.

Also available are materials, books, pamphlets, folders, videos, and special assistance from the National Council and cooperating organizations.

Providing Resources

The Council maintains a liability insurance policy which protects all leaders in the event of a suit arising from Scouting activities.

We have staff members available on what is practically an around-the-clock, around-the-calendar basis to meet any emergency.

Mission

The mission of the South Texas Council is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.